Method for Monitoring Drug Preparation

ABSTRACT

The invention aims to solve the problems of security during the production of drug preparations by dematerializing the manufacturing order using a graphic interface combined with a comparative video analysis. Said comparison can trigger a suitable warning with real-time monitoring and preferably subsequent inspection of the preparation. According to the invention, a secure imaging system for drug preparations on a predetermined site comprises a dynamic graphic interface including at least one processing camera having a focal distance adjusted for the detection of objects and connected to a digital unit for managing video signals from the processing camera. Said unit has means for establishing a comparison between the stored data of the in-process preparation using first images corresponding to the video signals and steps for preparing stored prescriptions and means for selecting a prescription in accordance with said comparison. Warning means are activated in the event that at least one step of the indexed preparation does not comply with the corresponding step of the selected prescription. The invention also relates to a filming device, a mounting for positioning objects and a system including the filming device and the mounting for positioning objects according to the invention.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/899,208, filed on Dec. 17, 2015, which is a national phase entryof PCT international patent application serial no. PCT/FR2014/051320,filed on Jun. 4, 2014, which claims priority to French patentapplication serial no. 1355817, filed on Jun. 20, 2013, and which claimspriority to French patent application serial no. 1359545, filed on Oct.2, 2013, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The invention relates to a method for the secure, namely controlled andassisted, production of drug preparations and to an imaging systemadapted to implement such a method.

The scope of the invention relates to the secure production of drugpreparations enabling a release monitoring of such preparations. Suchrelease monitoring is necessary since drug preparations are executedaccording to complex protocols, from reaction mixtures betweencomponents, with each component having a concentration adapted to acustomized treatment for a given patient.

Any error on the nature of a component or the amount thereof may entailserious consequences for the patient whom the preparation isadministered to, especially when a toxic active substance is involved,such as cytotoxic preparations used in cancer treatments.

In practice, operators can work several hours running, for example inhospital preparation units, which substantially increases the risk oferror on the composition or amounts of the components. Securing thepreparations usually results from a double visual checking: checking ofthe key steps of each preparation and report in writing on anappropriate tracking medium, usually called a “Production Sheet”.

In order to guarantee the quality of the drug preparations, AFSSAPS(French Agency for Safety of Health Products) published “GoodManufacturing Practices” which are a reference text for pharmacists.“Good Manufacturing Practices” specify the three obligations that mustbe complied with when implementing the raw materials used in drugpreparations:

-   -   the method for measuring the amounts of raw materials is        selected according to the nature thereof and the quantity to be        measured;    -   the volume measurement or the weighing of raw material        quantities are saved;    -   the raw materials are permanently identifiable during the above        operations.

During the preparation, the nature of each raw material used as well asthe weight or volume thereof are thus independently checked either byautomatic saving means, or by a second person qualified under the termsof the Public Health Code and checking is noted in the preparation batchfile. To meet the “Good Manufacturing Practices” and for the patient'ssafety, a double-checking of the nature and quantity of the compositionsused in each preparation is thus recommended.

A device for monitoring and recording the times required for thedissolution and/or the disintegration of drug tablets in a container isknown from U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,821. The camera lens is mounted on a sideof the container. In this document, the monitoring and recording do notmake it possible to check, in real-time, the nature of the compositionsof the tablets or the volume thereof. The patent document EP 1,867,998provides a recognition of laboratory equipment from a RFID radiofrequency identification tag (the initials of Radio FrequencyIdentification Device in English terminology) associated with a tagreader positioned on the instrument mounting and connected to apositioning stop. This solution is intended for the location andidentification of laboratory equipment but it does not make it possibleto check the nature, the volume or the weight of laboratory equipment.

The invention aims at remedying the problems mentioned above bydematerializing the production sheet using a graphic interface combinedwith video comparative analysis so as to cause the possible triggeringof an appropriate warning with a monitoring in real time and an aposteriori control of the preparation. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to a method for the secure production of drugpreparations in compliance with a prescription on a predetermined site.The method consists in monitoring the preparation at least in real timeusing a dynamic graphic interface using at least a so-called processingvideo stream making it possible to view the products on the preparationsite with a display of information relating to the prescription oncedetected by digital processing for identifying the components of thepreparation and by comparing data of the steps of the preparation andstored data of the step of the prescription, in triggering a warning incase of a detected non-compliance between the data of the steps of thepreparation and the prescription, and in validating the preparation incase of compliance between the steps data. The information relating tothe prescription is preferably selected from a list of available vialsaccording to the prescription and a list of vials used with theevolution of the volume of component taken from each of these. A displayof the evolution of the volume injected into a delivery packing and/orthe missing volume and a warning display are also provided, with suchinformation being optionally accompanied by a manual interaction tosample, inject a specific volume or to add a vial.

In advantageous embodiments:

-   -   one of the so-called processing video streams is focused on        object analysis data for a validation of steps, specifically of        key steps of the preparation, and a so-called scene second video        stream is focused on an overall view of the actions executed and        the location of objects on the site;    -   the detection extends to an automatic identification of the        syringes by processing the first video streams using shape and        character recognition;    -   the processing stream consists of a double parallel stream, with        each stream being adjusted for detecting objects in        substantially different size ranges;    -   an increment of the injected volumes and consequently of the        remaining volume, of the number of injections, of the number of        vials and of the leftovers is also automated from the graphic        interface;    -   the real-time warning is triggered if the vials and/or the        volumes of the component detected prior to an injection do not        comply with the prescription according to a stored protocol,        with the warning being cancelled and the preparation being able        to go on only if the compliance with the prescription is        validated according to also displayed guidelines, with the        progress of the preparation being then updated;    -   the progress of the preparation is monitored in real time        according to the data of the protocol of the identified        prescription;    -   the release of the preparation is validated by a confirmation        that a stored patient's identification tag matches the patient's        tag present on the delivery packaging;    -   as the steps of the preparation are indexed, the steps detected        as incorrect are identified by comparison with the step of the        prescriptions, and the subsequent validation of the steps        detected as incorrect, especially key steps of the preparation,        make it possible to go on with the preparation;    -   an a postieriori check carried out by a subsequent viewing of        the video images is associated with each preparation with a        synchronous browsing through at least two video streams, a        processing stream focused on validation objects of the steps of        the preparation and a so-called scene video stream focused on an        overall viewing of the actions executed on the preparation site,        in conjunction with the indexing of the analyzed steps, more        particularly the key steps:    -   browsing through the history of the stored preparations is        controlled by a search engine built in the digital control unit.

The invention also relates to a secure system for drug preparations on apredetermined site comprising a dynamic graphic interface comprising atleast one viewing and recording so-called processing camera having afocal length adjusted for the detection of objects liable to containcomponents and connected to a digital unit managing the video signalsfrom the processing camera. Said unit has means for establishing acomparison between the stored data of the preparation in progress usingthe first images corresponding to the video signals and steps of thepreparation of the prescriptions stored in a prescription memory andmeans for selecting a prescription in accordance with such comparison.Information on the selected prescription is displayed with the imagestransmitted by the digital management unit on display means. Besides,warning means are able to be activated in the event that at least onestep of the indexed preparation does not comply with the correspondingstep of the selected prescription.

In preferred embodiments:

-   -   the indexing means is adapted to index special steps specific to        each prescription, so-called key steps, through the integration        of information relating to each key step, in order to provide a        synchronous indexation of the video streams upon the a        posteriori checking, with the warning means being triggered in        the event of non-compliance with at least on step of the        preparation, especially a critical step;    -   the dynamic graphic interface comprises at least another        recording and viewing so-called scene camera having a focal        length adjusted for the global detection of the site, with the        processing camera and the scene camera having synchronized        streams;    -   the processing camera is composed of two cameras placed side by        side having a focal length adjusted for the detection of objects        in additional dimension ranges;    -   the processing camera is positioned at a mounting for        positioning the products and preparation objects;    -   the scene camera is positioned at a higher level so as to enable        an overall view of the site;    -   the mounting has a structure configuration adapted to the shape        of the objects, which favors a stable and reproducible        depositing of the objects, in particular the vials and the        syringes, and includes a backlighting device for accurately        reading syringe gradations.

The invention also relates to a device for filming a plurality ofobjects such as a vial and syringe, for the secure production of drugpreparations. According to the invention, the device comprises:

-   -   at least a pair of filming devices positioned opposite one        another,    -   a reflective element for each one of the filming devices,

with the two reflective elements of the same pair of devices beingpositioned between said devices along the axis defined by the twodevices and each one being oriented so as to reflect images of a drugpreparation production area towards the matching device.

The device may have one and/or the other of the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   the two areas covered by the two devices of the same pair of        devices are identical, and the devices have different zoom lens        making it possible to focus on objects with different sizes        which are present in the drug preparation production area,    -   the two reflective elements consist of flat surfaces associated        together by a common edge,    -   the two flat surfaces are formed by two adjacent faces of a        prism with a triangular cross-section,    -   the device comprises an elongate base at both ends of which the        filming devices of a same pair are attached, with the associated        reflective elements being attached to the base,    -   the device comprises means for attaching to a mounting for        positioning the objects involved in the production of a drug        preparation,    -   the device comprises means for attaching to a production chamber        of a drug preparation.

The invention also relates to a mounting for positioning objectscomprising at least one syringe and one vial of a fluid to be taken withthe syringe, comprising a flat base for supporting the objects, a screenstanding at the back of the base and a syringe holder mounted totranslate with respect to the base between a disengaged positionindependent of the base and an engaged position in the base. Thepositioning mounting may have one and/or the other of the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   the syringe holder is mounted to translate through a slide        connection with the base in a recess formed from the upper face        of the base,    -   the upper surfaces of the base and of the syringe holder are        co-planar and comprise matching reliefs for accommodating a        vial, which form a relief for accommodating the bottom of a        vial, such as a recess or a rib, when the syringe holder is in        its engaged position,    -   the syringe holder comprises a rack for retaining the wings of a        syringe and a longitudinal block for supporting the body of the        syringe,    -   when the syringe holder is in its engaged position, the recess        for accommodating the bottom of a vial is positioned between the        rack retaining the wings of a syringe and the block for        supporting the body of the syringe, when the latter is in its        engaged position.

The invention also relates to a system for filming a plurality ofobjects for the production of a drug preparation comprising a filmingdevice as defined above, a mounting for positioning objects as describedabove, and a chamber for producing drug preparations, with the mountingfor positioning objects being positioned inside the chamber, and thefilming device outside thereof against a transparent window of thechamber, and at a position such that images of the mounting forpositioning objects, can reach the filming devices of the system. Inthis system, the filming device and the mounting for positioning objectspreferably comprise additional attaching means placed opposite eachother on either side of the transparent window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other data, characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following non-restrictive description, withreference to the appended figures which represent, respectively:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drug preparation site equipped with anexample of the secure imaging system for such preparations;

FIG. 2 is a view of the real-time display of the invention incorporatingan image provided by a processing camera;

FIG. 3 is a view of the display of an a posteriori control of a drugpreparation obtained using a processing camera and a scene camera;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a system for filming syringes andvials of various sizes, including a preparation chamber, a mounting forsyringes and vials, inside the chamber, and a filming device outside thechamber;

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of the system of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the mounting for syringes and vials ofFIG. 4, showing a syringe holder in the disengaged position with respectto a support base;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the right side of the mountingsupporting a syringe; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the left side of the mounting without asyringe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to the perspective view of FIG. 1 showing a portablehood 1 incorporating a drug preparation site 10. The site 10 is equippedwith an imaging system 20 for the secure production of suchpreparations. This system includes a so-called processing camera 21. Thefocal length of the camera 21 is adjusted to focus on containers anddrug administration tools, here 22 a vial, a drip pouch 24 containing asaline solution, and a syringe 23. In the example the vial 22 containscisplatin to be diluted in the drip pouch 24. For this purpose, a sampleis taken by the operator from the cisplatin vial 22 using the syringe 23and then injected into the drip pouch 24. The operation is repeateduntil the desired dilution of the active ingredient in the pouch isobtained to prepare, in the example, a polychemotherapy component.

Advantageously, the bottom 11 of the hood 1 has a structureconfiguration adapted to the shapes of the objects, which favors astable and reproducible deposition of the vials and syringes, andincludes a backlighting device 12 facilitating the reading of thesyringes gradations 23. The processing camera 21 is positioned at thebottom of the hood 11, slightly above the workbench 3 whereon theportable hood 1 is placed, i.e., substantially, facing the operator'sstomach (not shown), in the example. The processing camera 21 isconnected to a digital management unit, a laptop computer 25 in theexample. The computer 25 mainly comprises a processor and memories (notshown) which process the video signals Sv1 from the processing camera 21to provide images to a display screen 24 and record same. The displayscreen 24 then makes it possible to view information corresponding tothe preparation in progress from the video stream FV₁ provided by theprocessing camera 21.

Another recording and viewing so-called scene camera 27, has a focallength adjusted for an overall detection of the site 10. The lens of thescene camera 27 is advantageously positioned at the upper level 13 ofthe hood 1 so as to enable an overall view of the site 10 bytransmitting a video stream FV₂ to the display screen 24. The processing21 and scene 27 camera provide video signals SV₁, SV₂, synchronized bythe computer processor 25 so as to form a dynamic graphic interface forreal-time and a posteriori controls. The processing camera 21 isadvantageously composed of two camera placed side by side 21 a, 21 b,the focal length of which is adjusted to detect objects—vials andsyringes in general—in additional size ranges of less than 3 cm andranging from 3 to 10 cm in this example.

An example of real-time display on the screen 24 is shown in FIG. 2. Thedisplay includes here an image 34 from the video stream from theprocessing camera 21 b focused on the cisplatin vial 22. The videostream of the processing cameras 21 a and 21 b are analyzed by a shapeand character recognition tool, built in the computer processor 25 (seeFIG. 1).

The analysis enables the automatic identification of the objects used,i.e., a vial 22 and a syringe 23, by processing the first video streamsusing the recognition tool. The detection of product volumes containedin the syringes and the vials enables a non-destructive control of theactive substance used in the preparation. The delivery of thepreparation is validated by a match between the patient's identificationtag stored in the information insert E1 and the patient's identificationtag on the syringe.

All data printed on the vial 22 tag 22 a, in particular theconcentration in active substance are thus identified by saidrecognition tool. Such data is stored in the computer 25. During thepreparation, analysis data relative to the vial and syringe content aredisplayed on the screen 24 and saved for validating each step of thepreparation: amount of liquid in the syringe 23 and the liquid level inthe vial 22 (see below).

The computer processor 25 searches a memory, wherein a set ofprescription corresponding to the preparations are indexed by stepsusing a digital indexing tool. The key steps—i.e., the specific stepsthat are specific to each prescription—have a particular indexation, forexample EC1, EC2.

The processor compares the stored data of the preparation in progressprovided by the first recorded images 34—name of the components, amountspoured into the syringes, etc.—and steps of the stored prescriptions. Assoon as a key step of such prescription is recognized, the prescriptioncorresponding to the preparation in progress is then identified anddisplayed through the steps thereof in an insert E2. Information isselected based on the prescription detected from a list of availablevials and a list of vials used which has been stored in the computeraccording to data supplied by the laboratory management center. Awarning display 26 is integrated in the insert E2 as well as thepossibility of a manual interaction to sample or inject a given volume,or add a vial.

In addition, the progress of the preparation is displayed based on dataof the stored protocol corresponding to the identified prescription:information relative to the management of the volume contained in thevial 22 and the evolution of the injected/missing/prescribed componentvolumes in the syringe 23 are displayed respectively in the inserts E4and E5. Such management information is initiated by an increment of theinjected volumes and consequently the remaining volume, the number ofinjections, the number of vials and the remaining quantities. Thisincrement is automated from the graphic interface of the synchronizedvideo streams from the cameras 21 and 27. Such management makes itpossible to significantly reduce the errors due to handling operations.

The warning display 26 is activated in real time as soon as the vialand/or the component volumes detected prior to the injection in one stepdo not comply with the stored protocol of the identified prescription.The steps detected as errors are identified by comparison with the stepsof the prescription. Non-compliance of a key step triggers a search forerrors in the identification of the prescription which has beenselected.

The display then provides guidelines in the insert E4 and the warning iscancelled and the preparation goes on only if the compliance between thesteps of the preparation and those of the protocol of said prescriptionis validated. The progress of the preparation is then updated in realtime until the final validation indicated in the insert E2. Thepreparation is thus secured by an almost instantaneous reactivity andthe reproducibility of the preparation is optimized. The validation ofthe steps detected as incorrect, especially the key steps of thepreparation makes it possible to carry on the preparation up to thecompletion thereof.

Referring to FIG. 3, the a posteriori checking of the cisplatin-basedpreparation is displayed on the screen 24. The stored tags of thepreparation and of the patient are displayed in an insert E6 (patient'sname, active molecule and injection date). Recorded images of theprocessing 34′ and scene 35 video streams respectively from theprocessing camera 21 and the scene camera 27 are also displayed. Thescene video stream is focused on an overall viewing of the actionsexecuted and of the location of the objects on the site 10, here thevial 22 and the syringe 23. The a posteriori checking is executedthrough a subsequent viewing of the video recordings from a synchronousbrowsing between the processing and scene video streams, in conjunctionwith the indexing of the steps of the preparation, of the key steps inthis example.

Thus, the steps of preparation P1 to P26, the indexing of the key steps“I”, as well as the time of their implementation are displayed in theinsert E7. In the example, the step P4, i.e., the step of presentationof the vial P4 is not validated. This is a key step the correction ofwhich is saved as necessary for the final validation. This situation isexplained by displaying a particular insert E8. Other key steps of thevial presentation (P13, P14) and syringe presentation (P5, P22) areindexed. Additionally, the previous preparations are stored and browsingthrough a history of such preparations, controlled by an integratedsearch engine, makes it possible to display comparisons with thepreparation in progress.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown. Thepreparation can thus be in a stationary hood or any environment adaptedto install the imaging system. Besides, the number of cameras is notlimited to two or three but adapted to the types of preparation desired.Similarly, the management of the steps of the preparation can be adaptedto the various prescriptions. In addition, a final report is prepared onthe conditions of production of the preparation from the recordings,with highlighting of errors and problems.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 9, an exemplary filming system implementing themethod for the secure production of drug preparations is described. Thissystem is positioned on either side of a transparent window 40 of achamber used for the secure production of a drug preparation, andcomprises a filming device 41 positioned outside the chamber against thetransparent wall 40, and a mounting for positioning objects 42positioned inside the chamber opposite the filming device. Morespecifically, as best seen in FIG. 6, the filming device 41 comprisestwo processing cameras 43, 44 positioned at both ends of an elongated,rectangular base 46, a reflective element 47, 48 for each filming device43, 44, positioned at mid-length of the base 46.

The two reflective elements 47, 48 are oriented along the axis definedby the two cameras, so as to reflect images of the syringe and vialssupport 42 towards the corresponding camera. More specifically, the tworeflective elements are formed by two adjacent rectangular faces of atotally reflecting prism with a triangular cross-section 49, with theprism being mounted on the base through one of its triangular bases.

The two cameras 43, 44 have different focal lengths to focus on objectsof various dimensions placed on the syringes and vials mounting. Forexample, the right camera can be devoted to the focusing on small-sizedvials and syringes with a 12 mm lens, the left one on large vials andsyringes with an 8 mm lens. For the filming device to have smalldimensions, both cameras will also have small dimensions, for instance47×29×29 mm (L×W×H). One example of cameras suitable for such use isreference DFK23F445 by Imaging Source®.

The elongated base 46 is attached inside a box 51 comprising a frontflat and substantially rectangular face 52, with two shorter sidesslightly rounded, and provided with a substantially rectangular viewingcentral window 53 and a rear elongated shell 54 wherein the base isfirmly attached by its rear longitudinal edge, with the prism 49 beingplaced in the window opening 53 when the front face 52 of the box closesthe shell 54, so that the images of the syringes and vials mounting canreach both cameras 47, 48 through the prism. The front face 52 may beattached to the shell 54 by means of screws passing through holes 56provided from this purpose at the four corners of the front face andscrewed into a corresponding sleeve 57 provided for this purpose on theinner wall of the rear shell 54.

The rear shell 54 also comprises two lugs 58 extending vertically fromits lower side edge 59, with such lugs being provided with a circularcentral recess for accommodating a matching magnetic means (a metallicor magnetized chip, not shown) intended for holding the syringes andvials 42 mounting which is provided with additional magnetized meansagainst the glass wall 40 and the front face 52 of the box. The shell 54further comprises two rigid side plates 61 attached to the external faceof its back wall and protruding from both sides of its ends, with thesetwo plates 61 carrying two suction cups 62 facing forward in order to beattached to the glass window of the chamber.

Moreover, according to FIG. 7, the syringes and vials mounting 42comprises a mounting flat base 66, an inclined screen 67 standing behindthe base to form a white background and a syringe holder 68 mounted totranslate relative to the base 66 between a disengaged positionindependent of the base 66 (shown in FIG. 7) and an engaged position inthe base 66 (shown in FIG. 4). More specifically, the syringe holder 68comprises a rectangular plate 69, at one end of which a block 71protrudes, which has a substantially rectangular shape but the upperwall of which is a longitudinal recess 72 (the upper wall is made ofconverging inclined surfaces joining at a common edge, thus defining a“M”-shaped cross-section) to be used as a mounting for the body of asyringe, and to laterally hold such syringe body by the inclined faces.

At the other end, the plate 69 of the syringe holder 68 comprises a rack73 retaining the wings 74 of a syringe 75. Such rack 73 is formed by twoparallel walls, separated from each other by a distance sufficient toaccommodate the wings 74 of a syringe 75 (see FIG. 8), and have theshape of a “M”, like the block 71, to support and laterally hold syringepart near the wings 74. According to FIG. 9, an additional rack 76 isprovided for the small-sized syringes mounting, between the block 71 andthe main rack 73, closer to the block 71, and in the form of a“M”-shaped single wall 76 and the groove of which is at the same levelas that of the block 71.

As shown in FIG. 7, the plate 69 of the syringe holder 68 comprises twothinner side edges 77 adapted to slide in grooves formed on the sideedges of a recess accommodating the plate provided in the base 66 so asto slidingly engage the syringe mounting in the base up to an engagedposition (FIG. 4). In this engaged position, the syringe mounting 68 andthe base 66 together define a relief for accommodating the bottom of avial 78.

Specifically, the upper surfaces of the base 66 and the plate 69 of thesyringe mounting 68 are coplanar when the syringe holder is in itsengaged position and comprise complementary recesses 78 foraccommodating half disc-shaped vials and which form a circular recessfor accommodating the bottom of a vial when the syringe holder is in itsengaged position, with the recess being then positioned between theretaining rack 73 and the support block 71. Of course, another relief,such as a circular rib, may provide the same function. The base 66carries the magnetic means 81 matching those 58 provided on the filmingdevice. More specifically, such magnetic means (a magnetic or metalchip, depending on the one used for the magnetic means of the filmingdevice) are accommodated between two pins 82 vertically projecting fromthe edge of the base 66 opposite the screen 67, and having a flat frontwall which can be pressed against the inner face of the glass wall atthe level of the matching lugs 58 on the filming device.

The system as described above makes it possible to implement the methodfor the secure production of drug preparations, even when syringes andvials of different sizes are used, thanks to the plurality of filmingdevices having different lens used and to the reflective elementsenabling such devices to collect images of the same area: the syringesand vials mounting. This object is further achieved with the smallestpossible overall dimensions due to the use of a central prism for bothfilming devices.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for secure production of a drug,the method comprising: (a) obtaining an overall image from a scenecamera located adjacent an upper portion of a hood enclosure, the scenecamera being focused on an overall viewing of actions executed and of alocation of a drug container within the hood enclosure; (b) obtaining adrug container image from a processing camera located adjacent a bottomportion of the hood enclosure, the processing camera being focused onthe drug container within the hood enclosure; (c) validating a volume ofthe drug within the drug container during the production of the drug,using a computer which receives the images from the cameras, to assistwith determining compliance between prescription data and productiondata of the production of the drug; (d) displaying in real time, adynamic graphic interface using at least a video stream to view thesyringe in the preparation production zone with a display of informationrelating to a prescription; and (e) allowing a posteriori analysis ofthe production data obtained by the cameras.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: allowing an operator to transfer the drug between aplurality of the drug container, one of which is a vial and another ofwhich is a syringe, through accessible holes located in the hoodenclosure; and the cameras having different focal lengths.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein the hood enclosure is portable and illuminating thebottom portion of the hood enclosure with a backlight.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising holding the drug container in asubstantially horizontally elongated orientation inside the hoodenclosure during the production of the drug, on a horizontally elongatedmounting block with a rack horizontally spaced from the block.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the drug container is a syringe, furthercomprising locating an enlarged wing of the syringe in multiple paralleland spaced apart walls of the rack, which project from an elongatedplate which also retains the block, and the computer displaying thesyringe and the rack during the production of the drug inside the hoodenclosure to allow a posteriori checking by an operator.
 6. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: attaching a shell, coupled to at leastone of the cameras, to a window of the hood enclosure; magneticallyholding the drug container within the hood enclosure, the drug containerbeing a syringe; and sending an image of a drug vial in the hoodenclosure to the computer.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:obtaining a second drug container image of a second drug containerinside the hood enclosure, from a second processing camera, which isthen sent to the computer; and zooming in on drug containers withdifferent sizes in the hood enclosure and during the production, byusing lenses of the processing cameras with different focal distances.8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying evolution ofdrug volume injected into the drug container.
 9. The method of claim 1,further comprising displaying a warning if drug volume is undesirablymissing from the drug container.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising displaying increments of: (a) injected drug volume, (b)remaining drug volume, and (c) a number of injections, with regard tothe drug container.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the drugcontainer includes a vial, further comprising locating only a singlesyringe within the hood enclosure during a drug preparation cycle, andthe overall image from the scene camera includes both the vial and thesyringe.
 12. A method for secure production of a drug, the methodcomprising: (a) providing video streams to a display from multiplecameras adapted to image drug containers, using different focal lengthsof the cameras to focus on different characteristics of the drugcontainers; (b) transmitting the video streams from the cameras to acomputer; (c) using the computer to detect drug volumes contained in thedrug containers from the video streams during the drug preparation; (d)using the computer to match a stored patient identification with a drugcontainer identification; and (e) displaying the video streams to allowa posteriori analysis of the production of the drug.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: moving the drug from one of the drugcontainers to another of the drug containers within an enclosed hood;and holding one of the drug containers, which is a syringe, in asubstantially horizontally elongated orientation inside the hoodenclosure during the production of the drug, on a horizontally elongatedmounting block with a rack spaced from the block.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising locating an enlarged wing of the syringe inmultiple parallel and spaced apart walls of the rack, which project froman elongated plate which also retains the block, and the computerdisplaying the syringe and the rack during the production of the druginside the hood enclosure.
 15. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising: moving the drug from one of the drug containers to anotherof the drug containers within an enclosed hood; and illuminating abottom portion of the hood enclosure with a backlight.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: attaching a shell, coupled to the cameras,to a hood enclosure within which are the drug containers during theproduction; and magnetically holding a substantially horizontallyextending base, which supports a removable syringe mount, to the shell.17. The method of claim 12, wherein the cameras are processing cameraswhich are located adjacent to each other at a lower portion of a drugpreparation site, further comprising: obtaining an overall image from ascene camera located adjacent an upper portion of the drug preparationsite, the scene camera being focused on an overall viewing of actionsexecuted and of a location of the drug containers within the drugpreparation site; and zooming in on the drug containers with differentsizes in the drug preparation site with the processing cameras andduring the production, by using lenses of the processing cameras withdifferent focal distances.
 18. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising displaying evolution of drug volume injected into the drugcontainers.
 19. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying awarning if drug volume is undesirably missing from the drug containers.20. The method of claim 12, wherein the drug containers include a vialand a syringe, further comprising locating only a single one of thesyringe within a hood enclosure during a drug preparation cycle.
 21. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: manually moving the drug fromone of the drug containers to another of the drug containers within anenclosed hood which includes operator arm holes; and the displayingincludes displaying a graphic interface of data associated with theproduction of the drug in real time, including displaying at least oneof the drug containers and displaying a volume of the drug therein. 22.The method of claim 12, further comprising using the computer todetermine and a graphic interface to display a warning if a detectedvolume of the drug does not comply with a prescription.
 23. A method forsecure production of a drug, the method comprising: (a) transmitting anoverall video stream from a scene camera to a computer, the scene cameratransmitting the video stream of an overall view of drug productioninjection actions between a vial and a syringe, and of a location of thevial and the syringe within an enclosure; (b) transmitting an image fromat least one processing camera, the at least one processing camera beingfocused on at least one of: the vial or the syringe, within the hoodenclosure during the production of the drug; (c) determining a volumeevolution of the drug within at least one of: the vial or the syringe,during the production of the drug; (d) using a computer, which receivesthe images from the cameras, to assist with determining compliancebetween stored prescription data and production data of the productionof the drug; (e) monitoring preparation of the drug in real time withthe computer; and (f) displaying a warning if noncompliance is detected.24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: allowing an operator tomanually transfer the drug between the vial and the syringe, throughaccessible holes located in the enclosure which is a hood with a window;and the at least one processing camera comprising multiple processingcameras, each having a focal length different from the other.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, wherein the hood enclosure is portable and furthercomprising illuminating a bottom portion of the hood enclosure with abacklight.
 26. The method of claim 23, further comprising holding thesyringe in a substantially horizontally elongated orientation inside theenclosure during the production of the drug, on a horizontally elongatedmounting block with a rack horizontally spaced from the block.
 27. Themethod of claim 26, further comprising locating an enlarged wing of thesyringe in multiple parallel and spaced apart walls of the rack, whichproject from an elongated plate which also retains the block, and thecomputer displaying the syringe and the rack during the production ofthe drug inside the hood enclosure to allow a posteriori checking by anoperator.
 28. The method of claim 23, further comprising: attaching ashell, coupled to at least one of the cameras, to the enclosure; andremovably holding the syringe on a base which is magnetically heldadjacent to the shell.
 29. The method of claim 23, wherein the at leastone processing camera includes multiple processing cameras, furthercomprising zooming in on the vial and the syringe in the enclosure andduring the production, by using lenses of the processing cameras withdifferent focal distances.
 30. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising displaying the overall video stream to allow a posteriorianalysis of the production of the drug.
 31. The method of claim 23,further comprising locating only a single syringe within the enclosureduring a drug preparation cycle, and the overall video stream from thescene camera includes both the vial and the syringe.